Frequent heartburn linked to throat cancer risk

People who regularly experience heartburn may be more likely to develop cancers of the throat and vocal cords, new research suggests.

Scientists at Brown University in the US studied data on 631 people, 468 of whom had throat cancer, while the remainder had cancer of the vocal cords.

These individuals were compared with a further 1,234 people with no history of cancer.

Analysis revealed that people who had frequent heartburn and were not heavy smokers or drinkers had a 78 per cent increased risk of cancers of the throat or vocal cords.

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However, the researchers discovered that use of antacids had a protective effect against these cancers, reducing people's risk by 41 per cent, even if they smoked and drank alcohol.

Dr Scott Langevin, whose findings are published in the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, said that the study 'strongly suggests gastric reflux, which causes frequent heartburn, is an independent risk factor for cancers of the pharynx (throat) and larynx (vocal cord)'.

The scientist added that further research is needed to determine whether antacids really do help to reduce the risk of these cancers in people with frequent heartburn.

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